The Romak 7.62-calibre rifle with four live rounds that was found. - Dalton Laing

DALTON LAING, STAR Writer

The Savanna-La-Mar CIB yesterday found an illegal Romak 7.62-calibre rifle with four live rounds during a daylight operation in the community of Russia, Westmoreland.

Acting on intelligence, a party of detectives went to an abandoned house in Russia at about 1 p.m. in search of wanted men. On the arrival of the lawmen, two men ran from the house and escaped in bushes.

A search of the house was conducted and the weapon found in a bag in one of the rooms. An additional magazine which was empty was also found in the bag.

Although no arrests were made, a senior detective says Westmoreland has been enjoying fairly peaceful days since the slaying of some of the top gunmen in the parish earlier this year.

The officer said that since last year they have been receiving a lot of information from citizens who are concerned about the escalating crime problem in the parish.